Recessed lighting fixture including pivotally mounted power supply

ABSTRACT

Electric lighting fixture which, in use, is recessed within a ceiling or wall, characterized by having its lamp housing removably mounted to a plaster-ring, and a power regulating instrumentality hingedly mounted to the plaster-ring in a position where it is not accessible through the plaster-ring when the lamp housing is in operative position, but when the lamp housing is removed from its mount, the power regulating instrumentality can be hinged into a position where it may be operated upon through the plaster-ring.

United States Patent Guth, Jr.

[54] RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE INCLUDING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED POWER SUPPLY[72] Inventor: Edwin F. Guth, Jr., St. Louis, Mo.

[73] Assignee: The Edwin F. Guth Company, St.

Louis, Mo.

[22] Filed: Sept. 4, 1969 [21] Appl. No.: 855,337

[52] US. Cl. ..240/78 HA.

[51] Int. Cl. ..F21s l/02 [58] Field of Search...240/2 BV, 6, 25, 9, 9A, 51.11, 240/78, 78 CF, 78 H, 78 R, 78 HA, 78 LD [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 2,094,670 10/1937 Rambusch ..240/78 H 3,293,42612/1966 Zeitz ..240/5l.11 X 2,413,666 12/1946 Tuck ..240/5 1.11

[ Aug. 8, 1972 I 8/1952 Winkler 240/5111 2,802,933 8/1957 Broadwin..240/78 2,998,512 8/1961 Duchene ..240/78 Primary Examiner-Richard C.Queisser Assistant Examiner-C. E. Snee, 111 Attorney-Paul M. Wenk [57]ABSTRACT Electric lighting fixture which, in use, is recessed within aceiling or wall, characterized by having its lamp housing removablymounted to a plaster-ring, and a power regulating instrumentalityhingedly mounted to the plaster-ring in a position where it is notaccessible through the plaster-ring when the lamp housing is inoperative position, but when the lamp housing is removed from its mount,the power regulating instrumentality can be hinged into a position whereit may be operated upon through the plasterring.

7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEmus 8 I972 3.683.173

sum 1 or 2 EDWIN F. gum, JR

RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE INGLUDING PIVOTALLY MOUNTED POWER SUPPLY Thisinvention relates generally to illumination, and particularly tofixtures of the kind which are customarily recessed in the ceiling of aroom, and which require ballasts, transformers, capacitors, or otherelectric power regulating instrumentalities for their operation, andsuch instrumentalities are necessarily located above the ceiling inwhich the fixture is recessed, so that the light emanating from it istransmitted through an aperture in the ceiling to the space below theceiling.

When a reactance instrumentality for a fixture of the kind describedrequires replacement, or other attention, it has heretofore beennecessary for the repairman to climb into the plenum space above theceiling where the fixture is mounted; or to remove sections of ceiling,such as the modular panels of acoustical material surrounding the situsof the recessed fixture, in order to get at the instrumentality where afault has developed.

The object of the invention, generally stated, is to make the reactanceinstrumentalities of a fixture of the kind referred to convenientlyget-at-able.

This objective is accomplished, in accordance with the presentinvention, by mounting the reactance instrumentalities, the lamphousing, and an appropriate reflector, if any is employed, so that eachis movable relative to the other, and particularly so that the lamphousing may be readily released from its anchorage, and moved either tothe side of the aperture in the ceiling, but above the ceiling, ordownwardly through the aperture in the ceiling, such movement beingindependent of the reactance instrumentalities, but making themaccessible through the aperture in the ceiling. Preferably, thereactance instrumentalities are mounted in a housing which is hinged atthe outer perimeter of a plater-ring, while the lamp housing, with orwithout reflector, is releasably mounted at the inner periphery of thesame plater-ring. Such an arrangement provides the alternatives: that ifthe lamp housing is smaller than the inner periphery of theplaster-ring, it can be moved downwardly through the aperture in theplaster-ring to be out of the way, but below the ceiling, for operationsto be performed, through the aperture in the plaster-ring, upon theadjacent exposed reactance instrumentalities; or that the lamp housing,with or without reflector, may be of such magnitude that it will notpass through the aperture in the plaster-ring, but can nevertheless bereleased from its connection with the plaster-ring and moved sidewise inthe space above the ceiling, so as to get it out of the way ofoperations to be performed on the reactance instrumentalities. Inneither case does the electrical connection between the lamp housing andthe enclosure, or framework, which accommodates the reactanceinstrumentalities, need to be mechanically released. Where the enclosureor framework which mounts the reactance instrumentalities is hinged tothe outer periphery of a plaster-ring as above indicated, the hinging ispreferably about a substantially horizontal axis, so as to bring theinstrumentalities to be operated upon into a position where they areinvertical alignment with the aperture in the plaster-ring, and may evenproject downwardly through it, thereby facilitating operation upon themor replacement of them.

One embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings,in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of .a portion of conventional modularceiling having recessed therein a vapor lamp type of fixture constructedin accordance with the present invention, all being shown in theirnormal operating position but with part of the ceiling broken away toexpose the fixture;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, but showingthe lamp housing disassembled from the plaster-ring, and moved away fromit;

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the several components of the fixtureshowing the lamp housing connected to the reactance instrumentalitiesonly by electrical cable, and showing, in dotted lines, a position ofsaid instrumentalities which rmke them readily accessible for repair orreplacement by a person working and looking through the plaster-ringfrom below the ceiling;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view showing that portion of the ceiling inwhich the fixture is recessed, which surrounds the plaster-ring, andshowing the reactance instrumentalities in the position shown in dottedlines in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an axial sectional view of the lamp housing; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the plaster-ring and adjunct parts.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of modular ceiling panels 1, which maybe of acoustical material, are mounted upon an appropriate framework tosupport them as a ceiling at the chose elevation above the floor of aroom to be illuminated. Above the ceiling composed of the panels 1,there is provided an open space, commonly called a plenum, whichaccommodates ductwork and other equipment including the unsightly partof lighting fixtures which are recessed into the ceiling forilluminating the room area thereabout. In the form shown in FIG. 1, therecessed lighting fixture consists of a lamp housing 2, which. isdisposed wholly above the visible ceiling surface, a transformer andcapacitor enclosure 3 disposed wholly above the visible ceiling surfaceand connected by flexible electrical cable, such as BX cable 4 to thelamp housing. Each of the lamp housing 2 and enclosure 3 is connected toa plaster-ring 5 in a manner such as to pemiit relative movement amongthem. As clearly shown in FIG. 6, the plaster-ring has a circularaperture 6 surrounded by a horizontally extending flange 7 from whichdepends a vertical flange 8. As is usual withsuch devices, theplaster-ring 5 is fitted into an appropriate hole in the ceiling, suchhole being shown in the drawings as having a quadrant in each of fourdifferent panels 1, and the ring is appropriately anchored to theceiling structure, as by tabs 9 projecting radially outward from themargin of flange 7. The flange 8 is intended to project through the holein the ceiling panels, and to have its lower edge terminatesubstantially flush with the exposed or visible surface of the ceilingstructure. At one side of the horizontally extending flange 7, theplasterring 5 has a channel member 10 secured thereto. The

upper flange of the channel 10 constitutes the fixed leaf transformer16, each of which is removably affixed to the interior of box 12, sothat they may be readily removed and replaced when desired; and they areelectrically connected in the conventional way through BX cable 4 to thetop of lamp housing 2, in which a lamp receptacle 17 is disposed.

The hinged arrangement of box 12, relative to the plaster-ring l5,permits the box and its contents, including the wiring, to be moved fromthe position shown in full lines in FIG. 3 to the position shown indotted lines in the same FIG., provided the lamp housing 2 has beenmoved out of the position shown in FIG. 1 to a position such as thatshown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The lamp housing 2 is secured to the plaster-ring in any suitablefashion, such as by the provision of a plurality of lugs 18, eachvertically projecting from, but substantially aligned with, the innerperiphery of flange 8. In the form shown, the tabs 9, previouslydescribed, form an integral part of the lugs 18, but project radiallyoutward from flange 7. Each of the vertically projecting lugs 18 has athreaded hole in which a screw 19 is accommodated with its headprojecting radially inward.

The several screws 19 are intended to interfit each with one of severalbranched slots 20, which open at the lower edge of the lamp housing 2,so that the shanks of screws 19 may enter the slot 20 at the lower edgeof housing 2, while the screw is in position within the threaded hole ofits lug 18. Each slot 20 has a plurality of horizontally extendingbranches 21, 22 and 23, each at a different distance from the open lowerend of housing 2, and hence providing three different degrees oftelescoping between the lower end of housing 2 and ring at which theparts can be brought to rest and secured in position, with the heads ofthe screws 19 on the inside of lamp housing 2.

When the lamp housing has been thus assembled in appropriate positionrelative to ring 5, a parabolic reflector 24, or its equivalent, may beinserted upwardly through plaster-ring 5 into a position whereat top rim25 of the reflector is engaged by spring fingers 26 located within thelamp housing 2. The engagement between rim 25 and spring fingers 26 issufiiciently firm to hold the reflector in position with an upward bias,but is nevertheless yieldable to release the reflector when a downwardforce is applied to it. Such downward force may be applied by merelyreaching the hand upwardly through the plaster-ring 5, so that thefingers engage above rim 25, and pressing it downward. At its bottomend, reflector 24 is provided with an outtumed lip 27, whose outsideperiphery is preferably greater than the inside periphery of flange 8 onthe plaster-ring, so as to limit the movement of the reflector upwardlyrelative to the plaster-ring. However, as in many cases the plaster-ringdoes not extend downwardly through the ceiling material to a degree suchas to expose the lower edge of the plaster-ring, it is preferable toprovide the reflector with a separate flanged collar 28 whose internalperiphery is such as to accommodate the reflector 24 with a loose fit,but whose external periphery is sufficiently greater than the peripheryof any part of the reflector that it will extend outboard of ring flange8 to a degree sufficient to cover any space between the plaster-ring andthe surrounding ceiling panels 1.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will understand that when thefixture of the invention is installed, as shown in FIG. 1, and it isnecessary to replace the capacitor 15 access may be readily gained tothe capacitor, without necessitating that an attendant crawl into thespace above the ceiling, by the following sequence of steps:

1. Reaching through the open lower end of reflector 24 to engage the rim25 with the fingertips of one hand, and pulling the reflectordownwardly;

2. Releasing the grip of screws 19 in their corresponding branch slots21, 22 or 23, and turning the lamp housing 2 a degree or so in thedirection to free the stems of screws 19 from the branch slots whichthey had occupied, and bring those stems into the vertical slot 20;

3. Pushing the lamp housing 2 upwardly to free it from engagement withthe plaster-ring, and setting it ofi' to the side of the plaster-ringabove the ceiling, as shown in FIG. 2 the flexibility and length of BXcable 4 being sufficient to provide for such movement of the lamphousing without movement of enclosure 12;

. Tilting enclosure 12 about hinge axis 11 into the dotted line positionshown in FIG. 3, which brings the instrumentalities 15 and 16 intoposition immediately in line with the opening through plasterring 5where they can be readily removed and replaced, or repaired, or anyfault in their external wiring corrected.

The structure disclosed provides for certain alternatives in theforegoing procedure, as, for example, instead of moving the lamp housing2 ofi to the side above the ceiling, the screws 19 can be completelyremoved from their threaded holes, and the lamp housing lowered downthrough the plaster-ring so that it is suspended by cable 4 at asufficient distance below the ceiling that it does not interfere withthe attendant working on the contents of enclosure 12.

Another alternative in the aforesaid procedure is that the work whichneeds to be done within enclosure 12 can be accomplished through theplaster-ring without moving 12 from the vertical position shown in FIGS.1, 2 and 3, into the horizontal position shown by dotted lines in FIG.3.

In the arrangement shown, where the instrumentalities 15 and 16 aremounted to the back (i.e., the side remote from hinge pin 11) of box 12,the center of gravity of box 12 and its contents is such as to tend totilt the box and contents in the counterclockwise direction relative tothe plaster-ring, as seen in FIG. 3. This is desirable so that theordinary vibration to which a building is subject will not tend to hingethe box 12 and contents in the clockwise direction, as seen in FIG. 3,where it might collide with or damage lamp housing 2. On the other hand,with the box 12 and its contents mounted to the outside of the innerperiphery of the plaster-ring, it is desirable to protect the fixturefrom the possibility that such ordinary vibrations might rock the box 12in the counterclockwise direction, as seen in taken. In addition, theplaster-ring is preferably provided at the opposite ends of saiddiameter with a pair of upstanding slotted standards 30, each having anadjustable clip 31 with an underhanging lip adapted for engagement withan accessible part of the ceiling supporting framework. The clips 31 areadjustable vertically relative to the ring 5, so that at the time ofinstallation, the clips can be readily positioned for best engagementwith the permanent ceiling framework, and they too may be adjusted whilethe parts are in the position shown in FIG. 2.

From the foregoing description, those skilled in the art shouldunderstand the construction and operation of the invention and realizethe advantageous results achieved by it. While one complete embodimentof the invention has been disclosed in detail and certain alternativessuggested, it is not to be understood that the invention is limited tothe details of the embodiment illustrated in the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

1. An electric lighting fixture mounted in recessed relation to aceiling with parts concealed by the ceiling, said parts including:

a. a housing for accommodating a lamp,

b. a power control instrumentality,

c. a flexible electrical connector extending between and means securedto said ceiling for releasably mounting (a) in a normal operatingposition, and for hingedly mounting (b) in a normal position clear of(a), said hinged mounting being such that (b) can move into the normalposition of (a) when (a) is released and moved clear of its normalposition, said connector (c) being of length sufiicient that (a) can bemoved out of said normal position to an extent such that (b) can occupyit without disconnecting (c) from either (a) or (b).

2. The fixture of claim 1 in which the center of gravity of (b) ispositioned to bias (b) away from (a) when (a) is in its normal position.

3. An electric lighting fixture of the character requiring a powerregulating instrumentality in its electrical circuitry incorporating itslamp receptacle, and said fixture being of the type which, when mountedfor use, has a substantial part of its lamp housing recessed in aceiling means or the like, comprising, a plaster-ring mounted to saidceiling means, said lamp housing being removably mounted to said ring,the power regulating instrumentality mounted for pivotal movement withrespect to said plaster-ring, whereby said instrumentality is pivotedout of alignment with the aperature of the ring while the housing ismounted to said ring, and said instrumentality capable of alignment withthe aperature of said ring for ease of accessibility when the housinghas been removed from the same.

4. The invention of claim 3 including a removable reflector mountedwithin said lamp housing.

5. In an electric lighting fixture of the character requiring a powerregulating instrumentality in its electrical circuitry and incorporatinga lamp receptacle, said fixture being of the type which, when mountedfor use, has a substantial part of its lamp housing recessed in aceiling means or the like, said fixture comprising, a plaster-ringmounted to said ceiling means, the. power a instrumen i mo ted for i talmovem nt 335% respect to s id ring, v v lnareby instrumentality liesupwardly of the ceiling means and outside of the rings inner peripheryproject-ed during normal installation and usage of the lighting fixture,and said instrumentality capable of pivotal movement into alignmentinside the rings inner periphery projected to facilitate lampmaintenance.

6. The fixture of claim 5 wherein the lamp housing is removably mountedto said ring, and said housing when fixed in place upon the ringsubstantially obstructs the pivotal movement of said instrumentallyabout the ring.

7. The fixture of claim 5 wherein the power regulating instrumentalityhingedly connects to said plasterrmg.

1. An electric lighting fixture mounted in recessed relation to aceiling with parts concealed by the ceiling, said parts including: a. ahousing for accommodating a lamp, b. a power control instrumentality, c.a flexible electrical connector extending between (a) and (b), meanssecured to sAid ceiling for releasably mounting (a) in a normaloperating position, and for hingedly mounting (b) in a normal positionclear of (a), said hinged mounting being such that (b) can move into thenormal position of (a) when (a) is released and moved clear of itsnormal position, said connector (c) being of length sufficient that (a)can be moved out of said normal position to an extent such that (b) canoccupy it without disconnecting (c) from either (a) or (b).
 2. Thefixture of claim 1 in which the center of gravity of (b) is positionedto bias (b) away from (a) when (a) is in its normal position.
 3. Anelectric lighting fixture of the character requiring a power regulatinginstrumentality in its electrical circuitry incorporating its lampreceptacle, and said fixture being of the type which, when mounted foruse, has a substantial part of its lamp housing recessed in a ceilingmeans or the like, comprising, a plaster-ring mounted to said ceilingmeans, said lamp housing being removably mounted to said ring, the powerregulating instrumentality mounted for pivotal movement with respect tosaid plaster-ring, whereby said instrumentality is pivoted out ofalignment with the aperature of the ring while the housing is mounted tosaid ring, and said instrumentality capable of alignment with theaperature of said ring for ease of accessibility when the housing hasbeen removed from the same.
 4. The invention of claim 3 including aremovable reflector mounted within said lamp housing.
 5. In an electriclighting fixture of the character requiring a power regulatinginstrumentality in its electrical circuitry and incorporating a lampreceptacle, said fixture being of the type which, when mounted for use,has a substantial part of its lamp housing recessed in a ceiling meansor the like, said fixture comprising, a plaster-ring mounted to saidceiling means, the power regulating instrumentality mounted for pivotalmovement with respect to said ring, whereby said instrumentality liesupwardly of the ceiling means and outside of the ring''s inner peripheryprojected during normal installation and usage of the lighting fixture,and said instrumentality capable of pivotal movement into alignmentinside the rings inner periphery projected to facilitate lampmaintenance.
 6. The fixture of claim 5 wherein the lamp housing isremovably mounted to said ring, and said housing when fixed in placeupon the ring substantially obstructs the pivotal movement of saidinstrumentally about the ring.
 7. The fixture of claim 5 wherein thepower regulating instrumentality hingedly connects to said plaster-ring.